GREENFIELD — The 2017 Steak’n Bake’n Raffle, a fundraiser organized by the Greenfield Rotary Club, raised some $94,000 late last month for the 10 organizations selected by Rotarians as finalists.
The event included a steak dinner, drinks, games and musical entertainment during a People’s Choice competition to help select the top five organizations, which then receive a grant from the Rotary club.
The top five charities, selected for raising the most money in donations for their causes before and during the event, were: Families United in Support and Encouragement, Greenfield-Central Schools Foundation, The Hancock County Food Pantry, Love in the Name of Christ of Greater Hancock County and the Landing Place.
Each received a grant from Rotary of $5,200 in addition to the money they were able to raise through donations, said Dave Anders, event organizer.
Nearly 500 people attended this year’s event at the Hancock County 4-H Fairgrounds, creating a packed house for the fundraiser, he said.
The Steak’n Bake’n Raffle has provided nearly $245,000 for area nonprofit organizations since its inception six years ago, Anders said.
This is the second year the raffle has used the “People’s Choice” contest to determine the five organizations to receive a Rotary grant from the net profits of the event, Anders said. The increase in the event’s total money raised was because nonprofit leaders used the grant opportunity to encourage their donors to give generously, he said.
Rotary officials were pleased the raffle has been able to make a difference for local organizations. The club is often recognized for its work supporting Gift of Life, which helps repair heart defects of children worldwide, but Anders believes making a local impact is just as important.
“I am really proud to say our local Rotary club is making an imprint locally and nationally,” he said. “Over the course of the last six years, we have given money to or served 40 different local nonprofits.”
